How Hemp Helps Hearts

Hemp, other than its use by sailors for rope or hippies for smoking, actually does have some positive health benefits – particularly hemp hearts which are shelled hemp seeds from the soft fibre of a Cannabis plant.  Hemp seeds are high (no pun intended) in essential nutrients. For instance they contain an ideal ratio of the essential fatty acids Omega 3, 6 and 9 which help to maintain a healthy heart and immune system.

Hemp has a full amino acid spectrum, meaning it provides a complete protein including the 9 essential amino acids our bodies cannot make and therefore must be obtained through the diet, these essential amino acids are required for the growth and repair of muscles, bones and skin. Two dessert spoonfuls per day of shelled organic hemp provides 49% RDA of Magnesium which we need for healthy bones and teeth and for proper muscle function and energy metabolism.

Hemp is also a good source of dietary fibre which helps to maintain healthy bowel regularity and may assist in lowering cholesterol. It is also high in Vitamin E which is a highly effective anti-oxidant and beneficial for hair, skin and nails. Hemp seed is ideal for every diet and especially appealing to athletes, vegetarians and vegans looking for alternative protein sources. Hemp is a delicious snack or also a perfect accompaniment to cereal, fruit, yogurt, soup, juice, casseroles, smoothies, stir fry or baking.

Linwoods make a very palatable organic shelled hemp mixture which you should be able to get in a good health store and by adding a couple of tablespoonfuls to your morning muesli, yoghurt or porridge you get some excellent health benefits with very little effort.

Healthy superfoods made easy

Many health regimes advocate you have lots of seeds which can mean lots of opened packets that rapidly go off as you forget to use them up. There is an easier way which is to let someone else put together the perfect health combination and happily a company called Linwoods have taken up the task. They have an interesting combination of milled flaxseed, sunflower, sesame and goji berries which has all your essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. It’s the Super 5 mix and it has a number of health benefits:

Balances your nervous system as there is an amazing 230% of the RDA (recommended daily amount) of Vitamin B12 which plays a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and is involved in the metabolism of every cell in your body.

Keeps your Hair, Skin and Nails Beautiful with it’s Vitamin E content. This fat soluble antioxidant protects cellular tissue from oxidation and helps protect and repair any damage to your skin, hair and nails.

Boosts your vitamin and mineral intake as it contains a large range of vitamins and minerals including Vitamin B Complex, D, E and minerals including Zinc, Iron and Calcium.

Helps prevent osteoporosis as the calcium found in flaxseed and sunflower seeds is a vital mineral that builds bone and keeps it strong.

Keeps you regular and lowers cholesterol as flaxseed is very high in fibre. It contains insoluble fibre help to maintain healthy bowel regularity and soluble fibre which can assist in lowering cholesterol.

Assists in prevention of prostate enlargement as it contains zinc which can help regulate normal cell activity and build immune system response. A strong immune system is needed to calm enlarged and inflamed prostates

A good source of dietary phytooestrogens that help regulate oestrogen levels in the body.

Anti-ageing and good for the immune system, and although Goji berries sound highly exotic they are now found on supermarket shelves – at least they are in my local Sainsbury’s. Very useful if you have vegetarians in the family as they contain all 8 essential amino acids which are the building blocks of protein and can only be obtained from the diet. Something that vegetarians can struggle to have enough of as amino acids cannot be stored in the body but have to be used up every day. They also contain Iron so that makes them a good source of energy and vitamin C which is essential for a healthy immune system.

If you want to stay young and beautiful then Goji berries are high in antioxidants which are indeed anti-ageing, as well as supporting your immune system.